Patent · US Active

MTJ incorporating CoFe/Ni multilayer film with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy for MRAM application

US8184411B2 · kind B2 · utility

40Cited by
14References
29Claims
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Key dates

Filing dateOct 26, 2009
Grant dateMay 22, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 5, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T428/1114
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A MTJ for a spintronic device is disclosed and includes a thin composite seed layer made of at least Ta and a metal layer having fcc(111) or hcp(001) texture as in Ta/Ti/Cu to enhance perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) in an overlying laminated layer with a (CoFe/Ni)x, (Co/NiFe)x, (Co/NiCo)x, (CoFe/NiFe)x, or (CoFe/NiCo)x composition where x is from 5 to 30. In one embodiment, a CPP-TMR spin valve has one or both of a laminated free layer and laminated reference layer with the aforementioned compositions. The MTJ includes an interfacial layer made of CoFeB, CoFeB/CoFe, or CoFe/CoFeB between each laminated structure and the tunnel barrier. The laminated layers are deposited by a low power and high Ar pressure process to avoid damaging interfaces between adjoining layers. Annealing occurs at 220° C. to 400° C. A laminated layer with high PMA may also be included in one or more layers of a spin transfer oscillator.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.